25th October 2000

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Professor Gerry McKenna, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, has today publicly praised the Programme for Government unveiled yesterday by the new Assembly. He said today:

"It represents a major step forward for the people of Northern Ireland. The proposals will help to create a society that is more inclusive in terms of access to the privileges of education and more prosperous because we will be more competitive and self-sufficient and less of a dependent region".

The Vice-Chancellor added:

"I am especially pleased that we will have 4,400 more undergraduates in our universities by 2004. We hoped that a government from Northern Ireland would address the chronic under provision and regional imbalance in higher education in this province. They have listened to the demand of the people for education and training and I hope that the future will see further relaxation of the restraints upon our universities."

"The Executive has also recognized the need to promote Northern Ireland as a world class centre for e-commerce so that we can compete fully in the global knowledge-based economy. We are committed to playing our full part in achieving this goal."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk